Abstract
BackgroundThe integrated therapy of Bufei Yishen granule and acupoint sticking has been used in the treatment of stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) clinically, with remarkable benefits. This study was initiated to observe the effects of the combination of Bufei Yishen granule and acupoint sticking on pulmonary function and morphormetry in a COPD rat model.MethodsRats were randomized into Control, Model, Bufei Yishen (BY), Acupoint sticking (AS), Bufei Yishen + Acupoint sticking (BY + AS) and aminophyline (APL) groups. COPD rats were duplicated by repeated cigarette smoke and bacterial exposures. The rats were treated with normal saline, Bufei Yishen granule, acupoint sticking, Bufei Yishen + Acupoint sticking and aminophylline, respectively, from week 9 through 20. Pulmonary function was measured by using a whole body plethysmograph every 4 weeks. The rats were sacrificed at the end of week 20, and lung tissue histology and ultrastructure was observed under light and electron microscopes.ResultsThe pulmonary function, including tidal volume (VT), peak expiratory flow (PEF) and expiratory flow at 50 % tidal volume (EF50), was markedly decreased from week 8 in COPD rats (P < 0.05). At week 20, VT, PEF and EF50 were significantly lower in Model group (P < 0.05). Compared with Model group, VT, PEF and EF50 were higher in BY and BY + AS groups (P < 0.05), and EF50 was higher in AS group, while VT was higher in APL group (P < 0.05). Markedly histological and ultrastructural changes, including respiratory membrane thickening, volume density of lamellar corpuscle decreasing, mitochondria reducing in type II alveolar cell, were found in COPD rats and were alleviated in the treated groups, especially in BY and BY + AS groups.ConclusionBufei Yishen granule and acupoint sticking can improve pulmonary function and lung pathological impairment in COPD rats, the curative effect of the combination is better than acupoint sticking or aminophylline only.
Highlights
The integrated therapy of Bufei Yishen granule and acupoint sticking has been used in the treatment of stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) clinically, with remarkable benefits
We intended to observe the effect of the combination of Bufei Yishen granule and Shu-Fei Tie on pulmonary function and morphology in COPD rats, and provide a basis for further study to explore the mechanism of the integration of internal and external therapy
At week 20, VT, peak expiratory flow (PEF), expiratory flow at 50 % tidal volume (EF50) in Bufei Yishen (BY) and BY + Acupoint sticking (AS) groups increased compared with Model group
Summary
The integrated therapy of Bufei Yishen granule and acupoint sticking has been used in the treatment of stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) clinically, with remarkable benefits. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a common preventable and treatable disease, is characterized by persistent airflow limitation that is usually progressive and associated with an enhanced chronic inflammatory response in the airways and the lung to noxious particles or gases [1]. It has been a major serious disease threatening public health because of its increasing incidence, mortality and heavy economic burdens. Bufei Yishen granule combined with acupoint sticking therapy showed beneficial effects in reducing the frequency and duration of acute exacerbation, alleviating symptoms and improving quality of life in patients with stable COPD [7, 8]. We intended to observe the effect of the combination of Bufei Yishen granule and Shu-Fei Tie on pulmonary function and morphology in COPD rats, and provide a basis for further study to explore the mechanism of the integration of internal and external therapy
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